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Canada 1919 by Tim Cook and J.L. Granatstein
$32.95
Canada 1919 delves into the aftermath of World War I in Canada, revealing the unexpected challenges post-war. Focused on the experiences of the Canadian Corps, the book explores the struggles of demobilization, political instability, labor unrest, and the emergence of Canadian nationalism. It addresses key societal issues, such as the treatment of veterans, the influenza pandemic, and the influence of the farm lobby. The book, characterized by high-caliber scholarship, emphasizes both the profound impact of war on shaping Canada and its limitations. While indispensable for historians, its engaging narrative also appeals to a broader audience.
Description
With compelling insight, Canada 1919 examines the year following the Great War – a war that was, for Canada, completely unexpected in its magnitude. In the midst of relief that the killing had ended, economic and political tensions were fraught as the survivors attempted to right the country and chart a path into the future.
The Canadian Corps had played a significant role in the war and were hailed as the “shock troops” of the British empire. They came home full of both sorrow and pride in their accomplishments, wondering what they would do and how they would fit in with their families. The military stumbled through a massive demobilization. The government struggled to hang on to power. Labour seethed, and the threat of Bolshevism emerged. At the same time there were positive changes, and a new Canadian nationalism was forged.
This book offers a fresh perspective on the concerns of the time: the treatment of veterans, including nurses and Indigenous soldiers; the place of children; the influenza pandemic; the rising farm lobby; the role of labour; Canada’s international standing; and commemoration of the fallen. Canada 1919 exposes the ways in which war shaped Canada – and the ways it did not.
While the extraordinarily high calibre of scholarship in this collection makes it indispensable reading for military historians and Canadian historians both in Canada and abroad, general readers will also find it compelling.
TIM COOK, CM, FRSC, is the First World War Historian at the Canadian War Museum and the author of eleven books on Canada’s military and political role in the First and Second World Wars.
J.L. GRANATSTEIN, OC, FRSC, is Distinguished Research Professor of History Emeritus at York University, a former director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum, and the author of many books on Canadian military history, politics, and foreign policy.
